Sheriff: Pettis County mother, son shot before fire

GREEN RIDGE, Mo. (AP) — A western Missouri sheriff says a mother and son who were found dead in their rural home had been shot before the house was set on fire.

Firefighters discovered the bodies of 56-year-old Barbara Hudson and 26-year-old Jeremiah Hudson on July 22 at the home in Green Ridge, west of Sedalia.

Pettis County Sheriff Kevin Bond told The Sedalia Democrat (http://bit.ly/16LnNWb) on Tuesday that autopsies showed both were killed by gunshot wounds. Bond says the fire was likely set to hide the crime.

The sheriff had said previously the fire damage was minimal and that the doors to the house were locked.

No arrests have been made. Investigators followed about 100 leads shortly after the killings, but Bond says authorities are waiting for reports on additional evidence.